Northern Ireland round-up: Leaders leave it late

Portadown FC needed two goals in the final seven minutes of Tuesday's match against nine-man Cliftonville FC to secure the win which moves them back to the top of the Northern Irish Premier Division.

Shock lead
The defending champions dominated what was often an ill-tempered match but had to come from behind to overtake Glentoran FC on goal difference with strikes from captain Vinny Arkins and his fellow forward Gary Hamilton. Anthony Crawford had given Cliftonville a shock lead with just 13 minutes remaining.

Donnelly off
The Reds' hopes of success were dealt an early blow when veteran central defender Mickey Donnelly was sent off after ten minutes following an off-the-ball incident which left Arkins prostrate on the Shamrock Park turf.

At his best
Donnelly's exit allowed Portadown to seize the initiative, although goalkeeper Paul Straney was at his best to frustrate winger Wesley Boyle and centre-half John Convery. When Arkins finally breached Cliftonville's last line of defence, his header bounced to safety off the crossbar.

Sub strikes
Minutes later, Crawford, on as a substitute, beat former Cliftonville keeper David Wells to make it 1-0 to the visitors. It appeared that it was not Portadown's night but Arkins blasted in an equaliser five minutes before Hamilton sealed a crucial win. Cliftonville defender Stephen Small, who also doubles up as their assistant manager, was sent off in the final seconds.